Editorial submitted 9-14-04 to the Az Republic Newspaper

by Bill Gilmore of Phoenix Az.

Low-Down Politics

Arizona “low-rider” owners and car clubs have unfairly become the poster-boy’s for misbehaving teenage cruisers.

Government “spin-doctors” are using Cheech and Chong imagery to justify passing a new law allowing the civil seizure of private vehicles in the name of “traffic congestion.” They ignore the constitutional issues of property rights and freedom of assembly which are also at stake here.

Both Phoenix Councilman Claude Mattox and Maryvale activist Maria Garcia who is running to become the districts State Representative mistakenly want to enforce harsh expensive ticket and tow penalties on their low-income constituents as a way to deal with the heavy inner-city traffic created by Phoenix’s successful “in-fill” policies.

Barricading thoroughfares and impounding resident’s cars won’t stop bored teenagers from cruising around looking for something to do, and urban congestion's certainly not the fault of hard-working car-customizer’s either.

Also, Arizona’s low-rider community contributes millions to our local economy and holds lots of family-oriented charity events too.  

Perhaps these freedom-grabbing politicians could get a little diversity training by seeing the “Mesa Southwest Museums” low-rider exhibit and making reservations to attend their free “Low-Rider Symposium” Saturday Sept. 18^th which will trace the 70-year history and evolution of the low-rider car-culture.

                            (199 words plus headline.)

Editorial submitted 9-14-04 to the Az Republic Newspaper by Bill Gilmore of Phoenix Az.

* Bill is a collectable vehicle appraiser and insurance dispute mediator with Automotive Research Services in Phoenix, and a member of the Society of Automotive Historians.

Contact Bill at 602-230-7111, 4305 No. 16^th Ave Phx. Az 85015, e-mail: AzCarCrazy@aol.com.